IE52020B1 - Cylindrical logical toy - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cylindrical logical toy having tamable and displacable elements which, for developing the combinative ability of the human mind, can be manipulated to solve a set problem.

In recent time numerous logical toys have become known. Some of them - as for instance the Toy with Balls described in the Soviet Patent Specification No. 44 869 sets a very simple problem for the players, while some others - as for instance the Spatial Logical Toy” described in the Hungarian Patent Specification No. 170 062 - are very complicated both structurally and in respect of the problem set by the toy.

An object of the present invention is to provide a logical toy of relatively simple structure, which can give rewarding experiences both to children and to adults, in that different problems can be set which have varying degrees of difficulty, According to the invention, a cylindrical logical toy comprising turnable and displacable elements, is characterised in that the turnable elements are in the form of a number of adjacent rings rotatably mounted with respect to each other about a common axis, in that a number of nests equal to the number of rings provided are spaced around each ring for receiving displaceable elements, in that the number of displaceable elements provided is equal to the total number of receiving nests provided by said rings, in that the displaceable elements are divided into a number of different identifiable sets equal to the number of rings provided, in that an additional ring is rotatably mounted at one end of said adjacent rings for rotation with respect to said ring about said common axis, and in that at least one spare receiving nest is provided in said additional ring, the arrangement being such that, by use of the spare receiving nest(s) of the additional ring and appropriate turning of the latter and said rings, the displaceable elements can be moved axially from a nest in one ring into an aligned nest when vacant of an adjacent ring progressively until a required pattern, or alignment, of the identifiable sets is achieved by the user.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the toy has a different identifiable plate or doll for each said identifiable element set, which can be detachably fixed either one on each said ring, or all spaced around said additional ring, in order to set respectively a ring alignment, or a column alignment problem.

The identifiable sets of elements may be distinguished by colour and/or shape and may be moved with the fingers around the cylin’drical mantle and in the direction of the generatrix of this mantle - in order to arrive at e variation of the elements corresponding to a problem set. The movable elements are retained with the cylindrical mantle by the nests in said rings and additional ring, said nests preventing the elements from falling out and from changing their position by their deadweight, but permitting appropriate axial movement. The number of the elements is the square of a whole number greater than 53030 two and is preferably sixteen.

The great advantage of a toy according to the present invention resides in its simple construction, which enables it to be easily manufactured with simple tools and at low cost combined with its versatility. Thus, a toy according to the invention, despite its simple construction, is extremely versatile for solving a variety of problems which can be of different skill levels. It can therefore be used by a wide circle of people. In addition such a toy facilitates safe micro-motions of the fingers of children. A toy according to the invention may be used individually as an entertaining pastime during travel, waiting, etc, and. can also be used competitively by comparing the inventiveness and manual dexterity of the participants in response to the problems set. Due to its assembly, no preparation is necessary prior to commencement of the solution of a problem set and, with suitably chosen dimensions, it is easy to handle.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :Figure 1 is a half-$ectional elevation of the cylindrical logical toy, and, Figure 2 Is a view of the line II-II in Figure 1.

The cylindrical logical toy illustrated in the Figures is formed by a number of rings 2, each provided with the same number of nests 9 in which ball-shaped elements 1 are arranged. The number of the elements 1 is the square of the number chosen for the rings 2 and nests 9; in this embodiment there are four rings 2 each having four nests 9, and hence, the number of elements is 4 x 4 = 16. The nests 9 are open at their top and bottom and are spaced at 90° from one another. An additional ring 3 is provided at one end of the cylinder in which at least one nest 10 is formed which is identical to the other nests 9. The sixteen balls are equally divided into identifiable sets of four different colours. Initially, the balls 1 are arranged in a basic ring variation in which they occupy all the nests of the four rings 2 and in which those balls of the same colour are in the nests of the same ring. The rings 2 with their balls 1, and the ring 3 without a ball, are assembled on an axial shaft 4 and are retained thereon by upper and lower end plates 5 and. 6, and a detachable ring retainer 7. The rings 2 and 3 of the so-formed cylinder are freely turnable around the shaft 4 and, in use of the toy, a ball 1 below or above which there is a vacant nest 9 or 10 of an adjacent ring 2 or 3, can be moved axially into said vacant nest by the pressure of a finger.

The toy includes detachable, problem-setting marks in the form of four dowelled plates or dolls 8, which are of four different colours corresponding to the colours of the balls 1. The dolls 8 can be located - according to the problem to be set - one in each of the rings 2, or all four spaced at 90° apart around the ring 3; it will be appreciated that dowel holes are appropriately positioned in the rings for receiving the dolls.

A toy constructed according to the invention can be used as follows :The problem to be solved by re-arrangement of the balls 1 is determined by the problem-setting dowelled dolls 8. Thus two basic variations can be set: (i) colour alignment according to columns, and (ii) colour alignment according to rings 2.

For column alignment, the four problem-setting dolls 8 are located at spaced positions around the ring 3.

In this case the balls 1 are appropriately manipulated, by relative rotation of the rings and axial movement of said balls, until the balls are aligned in columns with a colour seguence corresponding to the colour seguence of the dolls 8.

For ring alignment, the problem-setting dolls 8 are located one on each ring 2. In this case the balls are manipulated until they are arranged in rings with a colour sequence again corresponding to that of the dolls 8.

The simplest problem is set when the balls are initially in their said basic ring variation and the balls of two adjacent rings 2 have to be exchanged. This is carried out by first exchanging two of the problem-setting dolls 8 of two adjacent rings 2 and then, to solve the problem, by turning the balls 1 (minimum twelve-times) in the direction of the generatrix of the cylindrical mantle and by turning the rings 3 and 2 at 90° intervals (minimum eight-times).

The complexity of the problem set can be increased to varying degrees of difficulty, e.g. as follows :52020 (a) - when exchanging the balls of the two rings 2, no ring 2 is adjacent to ring 3, (b) - the two rings 2 are not adjacent, (c) - when the balls in three rings 2 have to be exchanged, (d) - when the balls in all four rings 2 have to be transferred to another ring 2.

The same kind of problems can be given for the balls 1 when they are to be arranged in column alignment.

Logically, even more complicated is the problem when the balls 1 arranged irregularly, or in different formation, have to be rearranged to a required ring or column formation.

Even more complicated problems can be set if the balls 1 of the same colour are given progressively different shades and are required to be arranged in sequence not only according to their colours, but also to the darkening or lightening shades.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS.

1. A logical toy comprising turnable elements and displaceable elements, characterised In that the tumable elements are in the form of a number of adjacent rings rotatably mounted with respect to each other about a common axis, in that a number of nests equal to the number of rings provided are spaced around each ring for receiving displaceable elements, in that the number of displaceable elements provided is equal to the total number of receiving nests provided by said rings, in that the displaceable elements are divided into a number of different identifiable.sets equal to the number of rings provided, in that an additional ring is rotatably mounted at one end of said adjacent rings for rotation with respect to said rings about said common axis, and in. that at least one spare receiving nest is provided in said additional ring, the arrangement being such that, by use of the spare receiving nest(s) of the additional ring and appropriate turning of the latter and said rings, the displaceable elements can be moved axially from a nest in one ring into an aligned nest when vacant of an adjacent ring progres T sively until a required pattern, or alignment, of the Identifiable sets is achieved by the user.

2. A logical toy as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a different identifiable plate or doll is provided for each said identifiable displaceable elemeit set, which can be detachably fixed either one cn each said ring, or all spaced around said additional ring, in order to set respectively a ring alignment, or a oolunn alignment problem.

3. A logical toy as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the displaceable element sets, 5 and plates or dolls if provided, are identifiable by being of different colours.

4. A logical toy as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the displaceable elements of each colour set are of progressively different shades. 10

5. A logical toy as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said rings and tbs additional ring are detachably assembled together on a common shaft to form a cylinder and are held together by a ring retainer and end plates. 15

6. A logical toy as claimed in any ope of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that four said rings and one additional ring is provided, each said ring having four nests and said additional ring having one spare nest,and in that sixteen displaceable elements in the form of balls 2o are provided, their being four equal sets of different coloured balls.

7. A logical toy constructed, arranged and adapted for iise substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing. F. R. KELLY & CO., AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS.